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The 2023 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Tennessee.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at The Spring Fling as they compete for a state championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Tennessee. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing other pieces of content covering the Volunteer State.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each TSSAA classification as well as a Power 25. 

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

 

High School Name: Goodpasture Christian School 

Coach’s Name: Jim Carter 

Team Twitter Handle: @baseballgcs

Classification: D2-A 

2022 Record: 41-5

District + Region Number: District 4 + Middle Region 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 10 

Team Strengths: Talented and large (13) senior class

Top Returning Players:

• 3B/SS Carson Rucker (Tennessee)
• 1B/LHP Tanner Lane (Western Kentucky)
• MIF Hutson Miles (Columbia State CC)
• OF/RHP Jaron Elkins (Wright State)
• C/RHP Logan Harrell (Trevecca Nazarene)
• RHP Connor Martin
• RHP Jackson Garrett
• RHP San Knotts
• LHP Luke Payne (Tennessee)
• OF Bishop Quarles (Ohio State)
• LHP Luke Vierkant

Top 2024 Prospects: 

• 1B Braxton Lawrence
• INF Tyson Henderlight

Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:

• C Tyler Cross
• OF Rylan Moses
• RHP/1B Jake Collier

Team Outlook:

The Cougars were outstanding from start to finish last year as they compiled a 41-5 record. They went wire to wire as the no.1 team in D2-A in PBR class rankings and opened the year as no. 5 in Power 25 Rankings. They played really well at the state tournament and captured the D2-A title on their revenge tour from 2021. Looking ahead, they have the pieces to go back-to-back with a deep senior class and roster littered with college commits. ‘23 INF Carson Rucker (Tennessee) will shift from 3B to SS for his senior campaign and is a strong defender while coming off a Mr. Baseball award last Spring. ‘23 OF/RHP Jaron Elkins (Wright State) has great tools towards the top of the lineup and can provide depth on the mound. ‘23 C/RHP Logan Harrell (Trevecca) will be the anchor behind the plate and provide a switch hitting bat while throwing key innings on the mound. ‘23 MINF Hutson Miles (Columbia St) will pair with Rucker up the middle and is a solid bat in the lineup. ‘23 LHP/1B Tanner Lane (Western Kentucky) is a physical middle of the order bat and plays a key role on the mound. ‘23 RHP Connor Martin will be the ace this Spring and is one of the top uncommitted arms in 2023. ‘23 LHP Luke Payne (Tennessee) is returning after missing last season and will be a great addition to the pitching staff. ‘23 RHP Jackson Garrett and ‘23 RHP Sam Knotts are a pair of veteran arms in the mix. ‘25 LHP Luke Vierkant and ‘24 RHP Jake Truitt are developing arms that could make a big jump in roles this Spring. ‘24 OF Bishop Quarles (Ohio State) will play a bigger role this Spring for the Cougars and another lefty bat in the mix. ‘24 1B Braxton Lawrence and ‘24 INF Tyson Henderlight will be more consistently in the mix this Spring. Couple young prospects to follow: ‘25 C Tyler Cross, ‘25 OF Rylan Moses, and ‘26 RHP/1B Jake Collier. The Cougars are on a mission to repeat as champs and should be a strong favorite in D2-A.

 

Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
North Mississippi/West TN Rising Stars ID	4/1	The Gatorade Fieldhouse (Elevate) - (Hernando, MS)
Oxford Open	5/31	The Farm (Athletic Performance Center) - (Oxford, MS)

 

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